Words have power
By Not Known Most people would not imagine what it would be like to lose the power of speech until it is too late. You couldn’t share effectively or easily with others the needs you have, or the feelings you hold dear to your heart, or the desires you possess as you are unable to express them meaningfully. You wouldn’t be able to correct false…
The Five Marks of Mission
By Not Known When I first came to Malaysia and Singapore in 1965, I was appointed by the London Missionary Society. The LMS, as it was affectionately known, was one of the pioneer Protestant missionary societies in England, sending David Livingstone to Africa, Robert Morrison to China, John Williams to the South Seas, and William Chambers to Papua. Its stated purpose was…
Using a Merz to carry sand?
By Not Known Would you use a saloon car to transport sand? Especially if it is your very own saloon car? That’s what my Christian contractor friend was saying every time he put across his favourite poser in impeccable Singlish, “Would you use a Merz to carry sand?” (Or if you prefer, in the place of your favourite car, read Porsche, Ferrari…
How Can That Be?
By Not Known The Bible exalts God’s wisdom and ways above those of ours (Isaiah 55:9; Proverbs 3:5-6). Take the Sermon on the Mount for example (Matt 5-7): If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two…
Turning Points
By Not Known As we look back on our lives, we see several turning points, moments or events that changed the direction of our lives. It may have been the choice of a school or university. It may have been the choice of the area or country we live in. It may have been our choice of career or first job. It may have been meeting our future spouse. It may have been an…
Pick-and-Mix Commitment
By Not Known One Christian writer has written ‘The fear of commitment is epidemic in the western world’. What is true of the western world is probably true of much of the rest of the world. Certainly there is a lack of commitment in areas where commitment was previously expected. There is lack of commitment in marriage and family life. Many marriages now end…
Being the church
By Not Known I grew up questioning and struggling with ‘church’. “Why would I go to the same place, sing the same songs, meet the same people week after week? Surely there are better things to do on a Sunday morning than attending church?!” It was after being taught the book of Acts that I realised I had grossly misunderstood what…
Leaders and Followers
By Not Known Leadership renewal seems to be a hot topic recently, not only in political circles but in church circles. The last edition of the Presbyterian Express, the magazine of the English-speaking Presbyterian churches in Singapore, was almost entirely devoted to articles on leadership. When I returned from Singapore to England in 1998, I was offered a refresher…
Divine “Disunity”
Lost in the Woulds
By Not Known What actually is the church? The word conjures up many images and associations. We can have a picture of a building in a particular place. We call this church ‘Orchard Road Presbyterian Church’ although apparently that is only one of nine names we are known by outside the church. We can have a picture of a community with people, ministers, elders…